Tundra Environment

Question 1

Management

Answer 1

Alpine Convention

Protect natural environment while still promoting economic dev

20% Alpine forest is national parks which protects against erosion, water, biodiversity loss

Question 2

How is climate change affecting it?

Answer 2

Permafrost melting (May release carbon, however some studies suggest carbon stays in soil for vegetation use)

Vegetation and animals sensitive to change + may not recover from it due to them having short growing season

Biodiversity migrating e.g. red fox now having to compete with arctic fox for food

Question 3

Why is Tundra a fragile ecosystem?

Answer 3

Vegetation and wildlife every sensitive to environment changes and may never recover from changes

Question 4

Why is Tundra valued?

Answer 4

Much of Europe’s water comes from tundra glaciers, which are predicted to have melted in next 100 years (Alps known as ‘Water Towers of Europe’)

Supports range of wildlife so will see a reduction in biodiversity with changes

Question 5

Problems with Paris Agreement concerning Arctic

Answer 5

Paris Agreement makes little mention of protection of the Arctic and the indigenous living there

Pledges to help many developing nations with adaptation and mitigation strategies, yet nothing for the Arctic Indigenous, meaning they’re suffering the consequences of climate change with little help